FRANKLY SPEAKING
Zev Amiti
Yiddish Play Premieres in Wilmington!

It was the first of its kind ever in the 50 year history of the Wilmington Drama League; and without doubt, the first of its kind ever, outside of the Jewish community in Delaware.

A one act play with a strictly Jewish theme, written and directed by a Jewish resident of our state was presented Feb. 3 and 4 in the Drama League near 40th and Market Street before enthusiastic audiences but I suspect it was seen by not more than a half dozen Jewish residents of our city.

“So? What’s all this about?” you may ask.

So — I’ll tell you. It’s basically about my nephew, Moishe, whom many of you know better as Morris Levenberg, known more formally as His Honor, Justice of the Peace Morris Levenberg.
I know, it’s not always kosher to write about one’s kith and kin but believe me, this is different.

Here is a Jewish resident of our state and city — a native, too; actually born on the second floor of a house that stood at Second and Shipley Streets many years ago — who has taken on a hobby of writing, directing, and participating in plays.

Maybe you remember when Reb Morris Levenberg used to direct plays in the old Jewish Community Center that used to be on French Street, between Fifth and Sixth, just below the old Adas Kodesch synagogue?

And I recall once when he staged a play on the bimah of Beth Emeth. Yes, right there on the bimah on a Friday night! It was the dramatized story of Bontche Schweig and what happened to him when he appeared before the throne of the Almighty.

Well, getting back now to my story:

The Drama League had decided to enter a play in the national one act play contest and so it offered four one act plays on Feb. 3 and 4 with the audience helping officials of the Drama League to select the one to be entered in the national contest.

So Reb Morris Levenberg wrote a one act play, based on a story by Isaac Mordecai. He helped to cast it and he also directed it. It was named “Strike of the Poor People” and it involved an old Yiddish legend that once upon a time a wealthy man decided to marry off his daughter and in accordance with Galitzianer tradition (you see, Reb Levenberg’s grandparents and mother came from Galicia), the father had to invite the poor people to the wedding.

And according to tradition, if the poor people of the village did not attend the wedding and participate in the festivities, there just could not be a wedding.

However, on this occasion, the poor people of this particular village in Galicia, went on strike. They sent a negotiator to inform the father of the bride-to-be that they would not “honor” the wedding until they were assured of a raise in donations of money, their own selection of the food, served by caterers of their own choosing.

At first, the father, Reb Yitzchock, refused to agree to the demands but finally he had to give in. Here was the point of the play: Rabbi Menasha who was scheduled to perform the wedding ceremony, advised Chaim, the negotiator for the beggars’ union that according to Talmud and Jewish law, any one who receives charity is bound to share that charity with others, particularly with the shul.

The role of the father, Reb Yitzchok, was played with great skill by Joe Halloran, a veteran member of the Drama League, whose Yiddish mannerisms and accent were superb, thanks to the direction of Reb Levenberg.
Others in the play were Clyde Hess as Rabbi Menasha; Victoria Prober as the bride and Steve Porno as the negotiator for the beggars.

The acting was so wonderful, with add due respect to Reb. Levenberg, you would have thought it had all been directed by Menasha Skulnick or Boris Thomashevsky.
Anyway, the play did direct the audiences to a fundamental Jewish law!

Even beggars who receive charity are required to share that charity with the less fortunate.

Maybe someone can persuade Reb Moishe Levenberg to restage his play in the Jewish Community Center or even in a shul.

This article by columnist William P. Frank appeared in the Jewish Voice on February 24, 1984.